Child-proof container cap

ABSTRACT

A container cap, preferably of molded plastic, includes internal threads for conventional threaded receipt onto a similarly threaded neck of a container which also has a circumferentially extending bead of radial dimensions slightly exceeding those of the threads. The cap includes at its open mouth end an inwardly extending chamfered edge or rim. The cap is threaded onto the container in the usual manner until the inwardly extending rim of the container engages the bead below the threads on the container. At this time, further threaded movement of the cap onto the container distends the rim and forces it over the bead which is possible due to the resiliency of the cap material. After the rim has passed over the bead, again due to the inherent resiliency of the material, it snaps down into place making an audible sound or click. If a child should now try to remove the cap, he would find that due to a certain amount of play which has been built into the cap, he may turn it a slight amount, however, on further turning in the direction to remove the cap from the container, the chamfered lip engages the bead and resists further turning in that direction. Only a person with the sufficient strength, and who is aware that resistance in turning is to be expected and is therefore not deterred from further turning, can remove the cap.

United States Patent [1 Mart [ Nov. 13, 1973 CHILD-PROOF CONTAINER CAP [76] Inventor: Harry A. Mart, PO. Box 1241,

Beverly Hills, Calif.

[22] Filed: Jan. 31, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 221,946

[52] U.S. Cl 215/9, 215/41, 215/43 [51] Int. Cl B65d 55/02 [58] Field of Search 215/9, 7, 41, 46, 215/44, 42, 43

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,679,084 7/1972 Aronson .L 215/9 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney-George J. Netter et' al.

[ 57] ABSTRACT A container cap, preferably of molded plastic, includes internal threads for conventional threaded receiptonto a similarly threaded neck of a container which also has a circumferentially extending bead of radial dimensions slightly exceeding those of the threads. The cap includes at its open mouth end an inwardly extending chamfered edge or rim. The cap is threaded onto the container in the usual manner until the inwardly extending rim of the container engages the bead below the threads on the container. At this time, further threaded movement of the cap onto the container distends the rim and forces it over the bead which is possible due to the resiliency of the cap material. After the rim has passed over the bead, again due to the inherent resiliency of the material, it snaps down into place making an audible sound or click.

If a child should now try to remove the cap, he would find that due to a certain amount of play which has been built into the cap, he may turn it a slight amount, however, on further turning in the direction to remove the cap from the container, the chamfered lip engages the bead and resists further turning in that direction. Only a person with the sufficient strength, and who is aware that resistance in turning is to be expected and is therefore not deterred from further turning, can remove the cap.

5 Claims, Drawing Figures CHILD-PROOF CONTAINER CAP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to closure caps for bottles or other containers, and, more particularly, to such closure caps which will be readily removableby an adult, but secure against tampering or opening by the average young child.

There are an ever increasing number of materials which are sold on the open market and found in the average home which pose a possibility of hazard to children and particularly to young children. For example, materials such as weed killers, cleaning compounds, scouring preparations, detergents and pharmaceuticals of various kinds if ingested, or, in some cases, if even brought into contact with the skin, can cause serious harm. It is accordingly advisable to store such materials in containers, bottles, flasks, or the like, with closure means that will prevent small children from gaining access to the harmful substances contained therein. Moreover, reflecting the general concern for the steady rise in poisoning and injury to young children, particularly preschool age children, in recent years, regulations are being promulgated in increasing numbers which in effect require containers for such dangerous materials to be secured'from access by children.

Although many such closure caps have been tried in the past, they were found to be not complete satisfactory for a variety of different reasons. For example, many of the socalled child-proof caps were so complicated or difficult to remove and put on that their use by the average adult was inconvenient and therefore they did not find a commercial acceptance. In other cases, the cap construction was such that it required considerable modification of the container which made overall manufacturing cost prohibitive. Also, although.

certain caps would operate satisfactorily one or several times, they soon lost their child-proof characteristics which made use unsuitable for containers that would have to be opened many times.

In yet other types of container caps, supposedly tamper proof by young children, it was difficult to tell when theywere lockingly engaged with the container so that sometimes they were left in inoperative relation and therefore a child could easily gain access tothe contents.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a primary object and aim of this invention to provide a container closure cap which is easily put on and taken off by an adult, but cannot be .removed by the average young child.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved container closure means which-is applied to the container by threading motionin a single direction A still further object of the invention is the provision of a container closure cap which gives an audible sound upon locking engagement being achieved.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of an improved container closure cap which can be used with many types of containers without requiring modification of the container.

In accordance with the practice of this invention, a container cap formed preferably of molded plastic, includes internal threads for conventional threaded receipt onto a similarly threaded neck of the container.

The container, as is usual in many cases, contains a circumferentially extending bead of radial dimensions slightly exceeding those of the threads on the container. The container cap includes at its open mouth end an inwardly extending chamfered edge or rim. The cap is threaded onto the container in the usual manner until the inwardly extending rim of the container engages the bead below the threads on the container. At this time, further threaded movement of the cap onto the container distends the rim and forces it over the bead which is possible due to the resiliency of the cap material. After the rim has passed over the bead, again due to the inherent resiliency of the material, it snaps down into place making an audible sound or click. The cap is now in full operative position on the container.

If a child should now try to remove the cap, he would find that due to a certain amount of play which has been built into the cap, he may turn it a slight amount, however, on further turning in the direction to remove the cap from the container, the chamfered lip engages the bead and strongly resists further turning in that direction. Only aperson with the sufficient strength'and who is aware that this resistance in turning is to be ex pected, and is therefore not deterred from further turning, can remove the cap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 depicts in perspective view a typical bottle showing the cap of the present invention received thereon.

FIG. 2 shows an elevational, sectional view of the cap of the present invention fully received on a bottle opening of typical construction.

FIG. 3 illustrates the cap of FIG. 2 shown partially removed.

FIG. 4 depicts in sectional, elevational, partially fragmentary view, the lower edge of the cap during the initial stages of application of the cap to the container.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference now to FIG. 1, a typical bottle is shown for containing such things as aspirins or other pharmaceuticals, for example, and includes a cap 11 which is threadedly received thereon. In the usual case the bottle is constructed of either glass or plastic and with the cap 11 to achieve the child-proof characteristics of this invention.

The cap in its general aspects includes a head portion 15 which covers the container neck opening and continuous sidewalls 16 having an internally formed thread 17 of such dimensions as to permit threaded receipt onto the threads 13 of neck 12. The inner surface of head portion 15 has a pluglike member 18 with in- 'wardly sloping sides 19 which is received into the neck opening acting as a stopper when the cap is fully threaded onto the bottle or container. The latter is important in providing a fluid-tight seal for the container, both when the cap is fully seated and, as'will be described, when the cap is partially released as, for exampie, might occur if a child were to attempt to remove the cap.

The lower cap edge 20, defining the cap opening, is shaped radially inwardly to form a continuous locking flange 21. This flange is of lesser inward protrusion than the outermost parts of cap threads 16 so that the flange will either pass over the container threads 13 without contacting them or, at the most, establish a slight contacting relation with the threads during removal or putting on of the cap.

Turning now to FIG. 4, the cap 11 is shown during threaded securement to the container neck with the flange 21 bearing against the topmost portions of bead 14. By virture of the fact that the bead extends outwardly a greater distance than threads 13, the flange is distended substantially. Upon further threading of the cap onto the container neck, the inherent resiliency of the cap material causes the flange to snap against outer container surface as the flange comes down off the bead, making a distinct audible sound which can also be felt in the fingers.

After theflange 21 has snapped in place over bead 14, the cap may be screwed onto the neck a further amount, thereby providing a slight space between the bead and flange identified in FIG. 2 as d. At this time the cap is lockingly engaged with the container neck.

If a young child were to attempt to remove the cap by unscrewing it, no resistance would be met for the distance d. However, when the flange 21 encounters the lower surface of the bead, an immediate and substantial resistance to turning of the cap is established, and a preschool age child will find that he has insufficient twisting strength in his hands to withdraw the flange over the bead, due to the relative dimensions of the parts and the inherent elasticity of the cap material. An adult, on the other hand, has more than adequate strength to move the cap flange over the bead as shown in-FIG. 3. Of course, once the flange is located above the bead, the cap may be easily removed by merely unscrewing without more than the usual amount of force being required.

' Accordingly, the child-proof characteristics are twofold. First, the child is misled by the ease of removing for the distance d, and when he encounters the sudden resistance to turning he is puzzled and may lose interest at that point. Second, if he attempts to continue, he is thwarted by the direct engagement of the flange and bead which requires more strength than he has to release.

Moreover, it is to be noted if the child tries to use its teeth to pry off the cap, it still cannot be removed since the cap is threaded onto the container neck and must also be turned, and also, since the flange is continuous, prying up one side merely tightens the opposite side.

The pluglike member 18 is provided essentiallyv to stopper the container when the contents are liquid. The member 18 extends into the neck opening a sufficient distance so that if a child has been attempting to removethe cap and has twisted it through the distance d, the liquid contents cannot leak around the cap, but will still be contained by the member 18.

Although as described herein, the bead has a curved outer surface, it is contemplated that the bead could have a flattened outermost surface and still be within the spiritof this invention.

It is of especial importance to note that the container or bottle construction is one that is used for-a number of presently available commercial products, so that cap described herein may be applied directly to such containers or bottles without requiring change in the bottle or container construction. That is, if the container bead extends outwardly of the threads a cap made in accordance with this invention may be advantageously employed. Still further, since the present cap is threaded on in a single direction, presently used capping equipment may be used during initial manufacturing assembly of the cap and container.

The pluglike member 18 may be of solid construction integral with the rest of the cap, or hollow and adhered to the cap after it is molded.

As a further modification, where the container is for solid materials and not liquids, the cap 11 may be constructed without the pluglike member 18.

There is provided in accordance with this invention a special threaded cap which can be applied onto a similarly threaded mouth or neck of a container and which is secured against tampering by a young child. An adult on threading the cap onto the container neck is informed immediately by an audible click or snap when the cap is sufiiciently received thereon to exhibit its child-proof characteristics. Moreover, on unthreading of the cap, as soon as the flange passes over the bead, and thus is no longer childproof, the adult user is again informed by the click or snap of the change in locking condition of the cap. In this way, the adult user is as sured of full knowledge of when the cap is secured to the container and when it is not. What is climed is:

1. A child-proof container cap construction for receipt onto a neck of the container having external threads and a continuous circumferential bead, comprising:

a hollow generally cylindrical resilient body having a closed end, an open end and side walls;

said side walls including a thread formed on the interior thereof of dimensions suitable for mating receipt with the container neck threads, and the edge margin of said sidewalls defining the open end being formed radially inwardly into a continuous flange such that the flange will obstruct the bead as it passes thereover at. the conclusion of the threaded receipt of the" cap onto the container neck, said side wall thread and container neck threads remaining in threaded relation throughout passage of the flange over the bead.

2. A child-proof container cap as in claim 1, in which the capinner closed end includes a pluglike member which is fittingly received within the neck opening when the cap is threaded onto the neck.

3. A child-proof container cap construction for receipt onto a neck of the container having external threads and a continuous circumferential bead, comprising:

a hollow generally cylindrical resilient body having a closed end, an open end and side walls;

said side walls including a thread formed on the interior thereof of dimensions suitable for mating receipt with the container neck threads, and the edge margin of said side walls defining the open end beingformed radially inwardly into a continuous flange such that the flange will obstruct the bead as it passes thereover at the conclusion of the threaded receipt of the cap onto the container neck;

the relative dimensions of the cap and container neck being such what when the cap is threaded onto the neck and the flange has passed over the bead, the cap may still be advanced in the threading-on direction a definite amount.

4. A child-proof container cap as in claim 1, in which the flange interference with the bead when the cap is threaded on and off the container neck is such that an audible and tactile click is produced each time the flange passes over the bead.

5. A child-proof container structure, comprising in combination:

a container having a generally cylindrical neck open at one end and provided with a set of external threads thereon, and an annular bead extending completely about said neck and outwardly beyond the threads and spaced from said set of. threads;

closure cap means constructed of a resilient plastic having a top and side walls extending away from the top, forming an open ended cylinder, the internal surfaces of said side walls including threads adapted for mating receipt onto the threaded container neck; 7

. said cap means side wall marginal edges being shaped inwardly a distance sufficient to permit nonobstructing receipt over the neck threads and interfering passage over said bead while said cap means threads remain threaded with said container neck threads whereby an audible and tactile click is provided each time the cap is secured to the container and taken off by the cap means marginal edges being forced across said bead. 

1. A child-proof container cap construction for receipt onto a neck of the container having external threads and a continuous circumferential bead, comprising: a hollow generally cylindrical resilient body having a closed end, an open end and side walls; said side walls including a thread formed on the interior thereof of dimensions suitable for mating receipt with the container neck threads, and the edge margin of said side walls defining the open end being formed radially inwardly into a continuous flange such that the flange will obstruct the bead as it passes thereover at the conclusion of the threaded receipt of the cap onto the container neck, said side wall thread and container neck threads remaining in threaded relation throughout passage of the flange over the bead.
 2. A child-proof container cap as in claim 1, in which the cap inner closed end includes a pluglike member which is fittingly received within the neck opening when the cap is threaded onto the neck.
 3. A child-proof container cap construction for receipt onto a neck of the container having external threads and a continuous circumferential bead, comprising: a hollow generally cylindrical resilient body having a closed end, an open end and side walls; said side walls including a thread formed on the interior thereof of dimensions suitable for mating receipt with the container neck threads, and the edge margin of said side walls defining the open end being formed radially inwardly into a continuous flange such that the flange will obstruct the bead as it passes thereover at the conclusion of the threaded receipt of the cap onto the container neck; the relative dimensions of the cap and container neck being such what when the cap is threaded onto the neck and the flange has passed over the bead, the cap may still be advanced in the threading-on direction a definite amount.
 4. A child-proof container cap as in claim 1, in which the flange interference with the bead when the cap is threaded on and off the container neck is such that an audible and tactile click is produced each time the flange passes over the bead.
 5. A child-proof container structure, comprising in combination: a container having a generally cylindrical neck open at one end and provided with a set of external threads thereon, and an annular bead extending completely about said neck and outwardly beyond the threads and spaced from said set of threads; closure cap means constructed of a resilient plastic having a top and side walls extending away from the top, forming an open ended cylinder, the internal surfaces of said side walls including threads adapted for mating receipt onto the threaded container neck; said cap means side wall marginal edges being shapeD inwardly a distance sufficient to permit non-obstructing receipt over the neck threads and interfering passage over said bead while said cap means threads remain threaded with said container neck threads whereby an audible and tactile click is provided each time the cap is secured to the container and taken off by the cap means marginal edges being forced across said bead. 